Ambulance service gears up for Tour De France

09:12 05 July 2014

Tour de France.

Archant

With now just three days until the Tour De France starts and the world’s greatest cyclists weave their way from Cambridge to London, via Essex, the ambulance service is reassuring members of the public that they are ready to cope with an expected increase in calls as spectators flock to the region.

Rob Ashford, Locality Director for the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST), said: “We’ve been working with the other emergency services and the Tour organisers to plan for this event and to ensure that it runs as smoothly as possible. We will have extra resources on duty in both Essex and Cambridgeshire to assist if there is an increase in 999 calls and we also have additional managers in place to assist in the case of any major emergencies.”

The ambulance service will also have several cycle responders operating out of Cambridge city centre in order to respond to people who may suffer a life-threatening emergency in places that are difficult to access due to the expected crowds.

“Remember the ambulance service should only be used in life-threatening emergencies. If you are feeling unwell but it is not life-threatening, think about calling 111 for advice and if you need to visit your doctors surgery or pharmacist, check beforehand to ensure they’re not affected by the road closures,” added Mr Ashford.

Find out more about the Tour De France and the road closures, or visit the Cambridgeshire and Essex County Council websites.

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